Amp rack build, getting paint to be mirror like glossy?

[lil azn 06 10+ year member]

I have completed building an amp rack. I applied 6 layers of primer, 6 layers of white paint, and i am on my 5th layer of clear coat gloss. Before i put on the 6th layer of clear, i was wondering how do i get a "mirror like" finish on the paint.

I read someone else used 2000 grit and then used a buffing compound to get the finish he wanted, but he used didn't use spray paint like i did. Tips? Advice?

This is a picture of the rack without clear coat gloss.

Thanks.

Click to read more...

 

[07BronzeFuz 10+ year member]

if you are putting your 5th layer of GLOSS clear coat on, it should already be wet looking.. Maybe you should of used a gloss white.

 

[lil azn 06 10+ year member]

The paint is glossy as hell (7 layers of clear gloss and done) but i am just wondering if it is possible to get a consistent gloss that provides like a clear mirror finish not like a blurry one. Only if possible, if not it is fine.

Also, does anyone wax the the paint when done? Or do you guys just leave it as is?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

You can wet sand with about 1000-1500 and then go to 2000 then buff that shit out with some compound and then wipe it down real good with a lint free cloth.

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

Do not wax paint that is freshly cured... that's a big no-no. Best bet would be to let the paint cure for at least a day or so, then hit it with a wetsand and some buffing compounds. Then after the paint has fully cured, and I mean fully cured from the inside out (several days to a week), then give it a nice coat of wax as you would a car. Should shine like no other.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Do not wax paint that is freshly cured... that's a big no-no. Best bet would be to let the paint cure for at least a day or so, then hit it with a wetsand and some buffing compounds. Then after the paint has fully cured, and I mean fully cured from the inside out (several days to a week), then give it a nice coat of wax as you would a car. Should shine like no other.

this is how it's done....

 

[lil azn 06 10+ year member]

Do not wax paint that is freshly cured... that's a big no-no. Best bet would be to let the paint cure for at least a day or so, then hit it with a wetsand and some buffing compounds. Then after the paint has fully cured, and I mean fully cured from the inside out (several days to a week), then give it a nice coat of wax as you would a car. Should shine like no other.

I guess clear coat takes forever to dry, because upon transporting the clear coated boxes to my house, 2 of the boxes had marks all over them so i will have to resand and reclear some of it. The odd thing is that it literally felt dry when you touched it, but i keep getting red smears and black dots stuck on the paint.

Either way, one of the boxes look great so far. Do you have any recommendations for buffing compounds?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Are you using rattle can or do you have a gun?Rattle can will take forever to cure as the catilist in it is different.

 

[shahir 10+ year member]

You can wet sand with about 1000-1500 and then go to 2000 then buff that shit out with some compound and then wipe it down real good with a lint free cloth.

Do not wax paint that is freshly cured... that's a big no-no. Best bet would be to let the paint cure for at least a day or so, then hit it with a wetsand and some buffing compounds. Then after the paint has fully cured, and I mean fully cured from the inside out (several days to a week), then give it a nice coat of wax as you would a car. Should shine like no other.

what brand and type of compound would you recommend... also, when should the wax be applied?